Tooth-cleaning implement



(No Model.)

9 .aaew

Patentd July 16, 1895.

UNITED STATES HENRY SIM ONS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFICE.

TOOTH-CLEANING lM PLEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,782, dated July 16, 1895.

Application filed September 27, 1392- Serial No. 447,016. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it knownthat I, HENRY SIMoNs, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Implements; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of dental implements known as toothpicks, which are desired to facilitate the removal of foreign substances from cavities or interstices of the teeth and also from between the teeth, and more particularly embraces such implements as are designed to carry a strand or thread of fiber to be drawn between the teeth for dislodging more obstinate obstructions from the teeth.

The objects of my invention are to produce an implement which shall be simple, compact,

and durable in construction, and of such form and which shall serve not only as a toothpick, but-also as a bow for straining a thread or strand of fiber, and thus be of service to the dentist as well as to the public.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain particular and novel features of construction and arrangement, as herein illustrated and described, and as more specifically stated in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a dental implement embodying my invention, the strand or thread being removed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of the implement similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing a strand or thread in position for use in removing obstructions from between the teeth.

In the said drawings, A designates the handle, B the bow,and 0' the prong or pick, of the implement. All of these parts are formed 7 from a single piece of metal, such as steel wire'or strip, or of any other metal or mate- Practically, I prefer to form the implement of soft steel in the form of a wire or strip, as shown, and subsequently tempering the strip or wire or any desired portion thereof to the required extent. In such cases the implement may be plated with gold, silver, nickel, or the like. I do not desire to limit myself to said metal, for the implement may be formed of hard rubber, celluloid, brass, copper, or any other suitable material, either plated or plain, without departing from the essential spirit of my invention.

The bow B is approximately U form, and the body portion of the bow is preferably fiattened somewhat and curved downwardly toward its middle, as at b, so as to increase the resiliency or the springiness of the bow, and thus also to cause the arms I) b of the bow to normally diverge somewhat, as shown in Fig. 1.

From the lower or outer end of the arm I) of the bow B extends outward longitudinally the pick or prong 0, this pick or prong being united integrally with said arm and being also preferably flattened somewhat, as shown, and having itsouter extremity pointed so as to permit the insertion of the pick or prong into a cavity of a tooth for dislodging any obstruction of foreign substance therefrom. In itsouter side, near its point of juncture of the pick or prong O, the arm b of the bow is formed with a notch, cavity, bend, or recess 19 for a purpose to be presently explained.

The handle A is united integrally with the lower or outer end of. the arm b of the bow and extends outward longitudinally therefrom and in a direction opposite from the pick or prong C. The material of which the handle A is formed is extended or prolonged, and such extension is bent backward toward the body portion of the handle in such manner, first, as to form an eye a, this eye permitting the implement to be conveniently suspended from a nail or hook or attached to a key-ring or otherwise secured against loss, and also affording'a wider part to be grasped by the operator than the handle proper. The

material is then crossed upon the outer endof the handle A, as at a and thence continued or prolonged backward upon the body portion of the handle, said body portion and prolonged portion being twisted spirally around each other, as at a. The twisted portion extends from the outer end of the handle to the inner end thereof, or to the point of union of the handle A with the arm I) of the bow. The inner extremity of the extension a of the handle A forms a hook a which closely embraces the inner end of the handle, for a purpose to be presently explained.

D designates a strand or thread of any suitable fabric, silk-floss being preferably the material used, and one end of this thread or strand is looped, as at d, around the arm I) of the bow B, so as to enter the notch b thereof.

\Vhen the implement is to be used as a tooth-pick, the strand or thread is preferably not placed in position, the pick or prong 0 being inserted into a cavity or interstice of the teeth in the usual manner, so as to pry out and dislodge particles of food or other obstructions therefrom. At times, however, small seeds or other solid particles insinuate themselves between the teeth and cannot be.

dislodged by the prying action of the prong or pick 0, and sometimes the teeth set so closely together as to prevent the insertion of the pick between them. In such events the strand or thread D mustbe used. purpose one end of the strand or thread is looped, as at d, around the outer portion of the arm I) of the how 13, so as to enter the notch or recess b thereof, this notch or recess preventing the loop from slipping lengthwise upon the arm I). The thread or strand D is now extended across the bow to the opposite arm b thereof, and is strained or drawn tightly, the curvature of the portion 12 of the bow being temporarily eliminated therefrom and the arms I) b of the bow being rendered parallel or even convergent by the straining of the thread or strand. The oppositeend of the thread or strand D is now either simply inserted between the free end of the hook 0. or, if a still more secure attachment be desired, is wound around the handle A soas to enter between the convolutions of the handle and its extension a either wholly or only partially throughout the length of the handle. If still more secure connection of the strand or thread with the handle be desired, the free end of the strand or thread is inserted be tween the crossed portions a of the handle, and is securely pinched or nipped between such crossed portions. It will be thus seen that I have provided three forms of securing devices for the free end of the strand or thread D, and in order that the usefulness of such connections shall be clearly understood, I will explain the matter briefly in detail. Let it be supposed, first, that a vegetable or animal fiber ofconsiderable tenacity has become lodged between two teeth in such manner that the pick or prong will not dislodge it. now placed in position, inserted betweenthe teeth, and drawn back and forth,so as to saw out the fiber. Inthis instance, the obstruc- For this The thread or strand D is tion being comparatively soft, a simple insertion of the free end of the strand beneath the hook a affords, generally, a sufficient hold of the strand. Suppose, however, that a sliver of an ordinary wooden toothpick or of a skewer becomes firmly lodged between the teeth. In this instance, the obstruction being harder, will necessitate more vigorous manipulation of the implement, and hence the free end of the strand should be engaged with the hook a and also wound between the convolutions of the handle and its extension ct, either wholly or partly throughout the length of the handle, as well as being engaged with the hook 03. Finally, supposing that a small seed (such as a grape-seed) or a small particle of bone, or even an accumulation of newly -deposited tartar be tightly lodged between the teeth. A most vigorous application of the implement will be required to dislodge either of such hard obstructions, and hence the free end of the thread or strand should be not only engaged with the hook a and inserted between the convolutions of the handle and extension,but also pinched between the crossed portions a of the handle.

From the above description it will be seen that I have produced a dental implement which is simple, durable, and compact in construction, of such form as to be readily carried about the users person, and which can be effectively used either as a simple toothpick or as a tension-holder for a strand or thread for operating between the teeth.

I desire it to be understood that the eye CL may be formed or turned in a direction different from that shown,or it may be entirely dispensed with, if desired, the extension or returned portion a in the latter event being bent backward quite close to the end of the handle but sufficiently far therefrom to enable the strand or thread to be inserted between the crossed portion a of the handle, as above described.

The implement being made preferably of steel wire, as stated,and having all of its parts integral, is handy and convenient, simple, cheap, and durable in construction, and is adapted to be successfully applied to its intended use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A dental implement, comprising a re silient body-portion constituting a straining bow for a strand orthread and having endportionsextending angularly from its middleportion, a handle extending outwardly from one of said end-portions of the bow and with an integral resilient extension twisted spipallyl around the handle, substantially as set ort 2. A dental implement, comprising a bodyportion or straining bowhaving end portions extending angnlarly from its middle-portion, a handle extending outwardly from one of IIO said end-portions and an integral resilient extension twisted spirally around the handle I set forth.

' 4. A dental implement, comprising a bodyportion having angularly extending end-portions together constituting a straining bow for a thread or strand, a handle extending outward fromone of said end-portions, and a resilient extension integral with the handle bent to form .a ringat the outer end thereof, and then twisted spirally around the handle, substantially as set forth.

5. A dental implement, composed of a body portion, having end-p0rtions extending angularly from its middle portion, a notch or recess formed in one of said end-portions, and a handle extending outwardly from the opposite end-portion and formed with an integral resilient extension, the extension and handle being twisted spirally around each other, substantially as set forth.

6. A dental implement,comprising a resilient body-portion having angularly extending and normally divergent end-portions and a flattened and normally curved middle-portion, a spur or pick extending outwardly from one of said end-portions and a notch or recess formed in said end-portion, a handle extending outward from the opposite end portion, a resilient extension bent backward crossed against the handle and then twisted spirally around thehandle, and finally hooked at its extremity to embrace the handle, and a strand or thread looped at one end around the notched end-portion so as to enter the notch thereof and also engaging the handle, substantially as set forth.

7. A dental implement, comprising a resilient body-portion having an gularly extending and normally divergent end-portions and a flattened and normally curved middle-portion, a spur or pick extending outwardly from one of said endportions and a notch or recess formedin said end-portion, a handle extending outward from the opposite end portion, a resilient extension bent backward to form a ring atthe outer end of the handle, then crossed against the handle, and then twisted spirally around the handle, and finally hooked at its extremity to embrace the handle and a strand or thread looped at one end around the notched end-portion so as to enter the notch thereof and also engaging the handle, substantially as set forth.

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY SIMONS.

Witnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN, ALBERT H. GRAVES. 

